Improvement in table-leaf supports



A. G. JOHNSON.

Table-Leaf Supports.

N0. 137,210, PatentedMarch25 1873.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW O. JOHNSON, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN TABLE-LEAF SUPPORTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 137,210, dated March 25, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW G. J OHNSON, of Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Table-Leaf Supports; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 represents a transverse vertical section through a portion of a table and hinged leaf, showing the arran gementof myimproved support.

My invention relates to a novel construction and arrangement of a pivoted spring supporting-arm, in combination with a hinged table-leaf, for automatically locking said leaf in its elevated position, as will be hereinafter described. I

In the accompanying drawing, A represents, in section,the top of the table; A, a portion of a leaf, which is hinged to the top A in any usual manner; B, the side rail; and B, aportion of one of the legs of the table. G is the supporting-bracket, fastened to the leaf A, i

and made, for convenience in connecting the arm D, in two parts,c 0 each provided on the adjacent faces with a semi-cylindrical socket or bearin g for the transverse pivot d? of arm I). The portion 0 is provided with flanges c embracing the arm D, and serving to guide the vertical movement of said arm, and to prevent any lateral movement. The bracket 0 has an arm, 0, of suitable length, extending downward below the pivoted arm or latch D, and provided at its lower end with a cylindrical pin, around which is secured one end of a spiral spring, E, the opposite end of said spring being secured to the pivoted arm D at (1 and so arranged that the tension of thespring is exerted to force the latch or arm D away from the bracket-arm 0. To the rail B or other suitable point on the table is fastened a flanged metal plate, F, the flange f of which is located in position to receive the lower or free end "of arm or latch D when the leaf A is raised to a horizontal position for use, as shown in Fig. 1.

D passes the lip or flange f of plate F, and,

pressed upward by the spring, slides backagainst the verticalface of plate F, and rests firmly on the flange or lip f as the leaf is released, thereby holding the leaf in the required horizontal position for use.

It will be seen that the arrangement of the spring is such that the arm is securely held against displacement by the accidental rising of the leaf, and that when it is desired to lower the leaf it will be necessary to raise the leaf and to overcome the tension of the spring by hand or otherwise, and to depress the arm I) so as to permit it to pass under the lip or flange f and rail B before the leaf can be lowered,

thereby effectually guarding it against accidental displacement and the consequent destruction of material thereon incident to such accidental displacement.

I am aware that pivoted spring supporting arms or latches have been employed for supporting hinged table-leaves, and I do not, therefore, claim such invention, broadly, but

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The bracket 0 provided with the arm 0, in

combination with the pivoted arm or latch D and spiral spring E, arranged and operating substantially as described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 12th day of November, 1872.

ANDREW JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

JAS. G. KNAPP, G. W. FORD. 

